OP, what exactly would be the problem if it WERE a hotrod job? If you use "upgrade parts" [a relative term, I acknowledge], maybe you end up w/a BETTER sound that what it was originally...I say this because I am using an OLD Sansui integrated, slightly hotrodded [by someone else], driving some old Pioneers that are majorly hotrodded [by me]. WAY better sound; I sit and shake my head in wonder every time I listen to it.
But go w/whatever you like, obviously ~ just saying that ruling out upgrading something [like caps] might be your sonic loss>>>>>